Mechanism for packing cartridges



(No Model.) 5 SheetsSheet 1.

P. BUTLER. MECHANISM FOR PACKING CARTRIDGES. N0. 299,200. Patented May27, 1884.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

P.BUTLER.

MECHANISM FOR PACKING CARTRIDGES. 310,299,200.

' Patented a 27, 1884.

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P BUTLER MECHANISM FOR PACKING- CARTRIDGES.

Patented May 27. 1884.

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P. BUTLER. MECHANISM FOR PACKING CARTRIDGES.

Patented May 27, 1884. Ywgm Ba Wflnassas aka/M 47.

cation.

PAUL BUTLER, OF LOWV MECHANISM FOR PA PATENT @EEICE.

ELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

CKING CARTRIDGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 299,200, dated May 27,1884.

Application filed -Marc 5T0 all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL BUTLER, of the city of Lowell, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Mechanism for Packing Cartridges and Processes of Usingthe Same, of which the following is a specifi- My invention relates tothe packing of metallic cartridges in boxes, in which they aretransported and sold in the market; and it consists of the series ofnovel tools or implements and the process of using the same in packingsuch cartridges, substantially as hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows an implement used for lubricating thebullet ends of the cartridges, which I have so modified as to enable itto be used in performing the first step in the process of packing them.Fig. 2 is an edge view of same. Fig. 3 is a face view of the secondimplement I have devised to be used in conjunction with that shown inFig.

h 1, 1884. (No model.)

cartridges being packed in the box in rows, with the heads and pointsalternately up and down, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, in which a arepresent the cartridges packed, andb represents the box ready to putthe cover on. These cartridges have been always thus packed by hand oneat a time, it having been supposed to be impossible to pack them in anymore expeditious manner. The smaller eartridges have been thrown looselyinto boxes without packing, owing to the difficulty and expense of sopacking them.

By my invention I am not only enabled to pack the large cartridges morerapidly, but also to pack the small cartridges in the same manner, andthus insure their safety of transportation and more attractiveappearance when put on sale, as well as a saving in space and expense inboxing. I am also enabled to prevent the grease which is applied to theball part of the cartridge from being rubbed against the metallic shellpart, and causing greater difficulty in inserting and withdrawing the 1.Fig. at is a transverse section of the same. Fig. 5 is a side view ofsame. Fig. 6 is a face view of a third implement to be used incombination with that shown in Fig. 3 in the packing process. Fig. 7 isa transverse section of the same. Fig. 8 is a side view of the same.Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical section of the implements shown inFigs. 1 and 3 as they are being used in the packing process. Fig. 10 isa face view of another implement used in the packing process. Fig. 11 isalongitudinal section of the same through line D D. Fig. 12 is alongitudinal section of the same through line E E, showing the slide ina different position. Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section of the implementshown in Figs. 3 and 10 while being used for packing the cartridges.Fig. 14 represents the implement shown in Fig. 3, with the box in theact of being applied thereto in the final step of the packing process.Fig. 15 represents a face view of the cartridge-box with the cartridgespacked therein ready for the market. Fig. 16 represents a transversesection through the box divided on line B B.

Heretofore it has been customary to pack large sizes of cartridges inpaper boxes consame from the chamber of the firearm, the greaseonlybeing required upon the ball part and not upon the metallic shellpart for use.

Fig. 1 shows a plate, A, having a series of holes through it, a, intowhich the cartridges are inserted so that the heads will rest upon theplate, and the cylindrical case just fill the holes in the positionshown in Fig. 9. This plate is used to grease the ball parts of thecartridges after the holes in it are filled with them by holding it overa dish of melted tallow with the balls downward, and lowering theseballs into the tallow. Plates with similar holes have heretofore beenused for this purpose; but my improvement in the plate A consists inarranging the holes in regular order and at such distances apart as thatwhen the cartridges are in them they will occupy the same position withrelation to each other as they do when packed in the box shown in Figs.15 and 16, and having their heads all in the same directionthat is, Imean the cartridges in the box having their heads all upward are in thesame position as when in the holes in plate A, and the cartridges in thebox having their heads all downward are in the same position,whence itfollows that the clustaining one hundred cartridges each, the said terof holes a, &c., on each side of the central line of the plate A containjust one-half the number of cartridges necessary to fill the box, theplate A being designed to be used in packing two boxes simultaneously.It will be observed that this arrangement of the holes a requires thatthe rows parallel to the sides of the plate A shall have their holescome opposite to the spaces between the holes in the adjacent rows, andthat the distance between the holes in each of these rows, both ways ofthe plate, shall be equal to the diameter of the hole. This arrangementof the holes in alternating rows is essential to the subsequentprocesses of the packing operation. I further improve the plate A bymaking in it holes 0, for the introduction of guide-rods, substantiallyas hereinafter described.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 is shown a plate, B, having in it holes b,extending through it to the cap-piece bf, which is secured to the lowerside of the plate, thus forming recesses in the plate. These recessesmay be formed by counterboring into the plate B without going entirelythrough it, if desired. These recesses b are of just the diameter toreceive the heads of the cartridges and allow them to rest down upon theplate bflin the manner shown in Fig. 13, when the cartridges are placedin the recesses, as there shown. The series of recesses b b are in thesame position with relation to each other that the heads of thecartridges are when inserted in the holes a of the plate A, and theplate B has a double seriesof these holes, like the plate A, for packingtwo boxes 'at once.

Between the recesses b .in the plate B is another series of recesses,b",made of the shape of the points of the bullets of the cartridges, thepurpose of which will be hereinafter explained. The plate B is providedwith posts 0 at its corners, which fit into the holes 0 in the plate A,so as to slide in them when inserted, as shown in'Fig. 9.

0, Figs. 6,7, 8, is a frame-work made with square holes 0 in it, andwith round holes 0 at its corners, so arranged as to fit upon the posts0 of the plate B, and slide down upon them when the frame 0 comes intothe position shown in Fig. 13. The holes (3 in this frame, when in thisposition, just surround the cartridges, leaving space enough to applythe box, as shown in Fig. 14, when they are ready for it. Short uprightposts 0 are fixed in the frame 0, and extend a short distance above it,for the purpose hereinafter described. Short studs 0 are also fixed inthe frame 6, which fit snugly into holes 0 in plate B,when they areplaced together as hereinafter described.

D, Figs. 10,11,12, represents'an instrument which consists of thefollowing parts: Two plates, (1 d, have holes 6 e drilled through themexactly opposite to each other, of sufficient diameter to just receivethe heads of the cartridges freely. The plates 66 d are secured togetherso that the holes 6 in each come directly opposite each other, theplates having their surfaces opposite to each other held apart andparallel by narrow strips of metal about three thirty-seconds of an inchthick placed between them along their longest sides. These strips ofmetal are about five-sixteenths of an inch in width, and are secured inplace by rivets passing through the plates (1 d and themselves. Theyextend inward from the edges of the plates (1 (1 far enough to form sideguides for the plate D which is of such a thickness that it will justslide freely in the space between the plates d d when slipped into it.The plate D has a series of holes through it exactly corresponding inposition and size with the holes 6 in plates (1 d It also has twoelongated holes through it, (1*,

which slip freely on the'pins (2 passing through and fixed in the plates(1 (2 These holes and pins (1* d are in such a position that when theplate D Fig. 11, is slipped as far to the right as possible the largerholes through the plate D coincide with the holes 6 in the plates d (1but when the plate D is slipped as far as the pins and holes (1* (1 willpermit to the left, Fig. 11, the larger holes in the plate D will bedrawn slightly out of coincidence with the holes 6 and prevent acartridge-head passing through the latter.

(1 is another plate secured to the lower side or face of the plate d, toform of the holes a receptacles or cavities with fiat bottoms, on whichthe cartridge-heads may abut when inserted in the holes 6, as shown inFig. 13, in which latter figure the cartridges are shown as secured inthe instrument or holder D by the plate D being slipped so as to preventtheir escape from the holes or cavities 6.

Through the corners of the holder D are made holes 6', which fit andslide freely upon the studs 0 of the plate B when the holder and plateare applied together, as shown in Fig. 13. Two studs, 6, are made toproject slightly above the plated of the holder D, which fit into theholes 0* in the plate A, and serve to bring the holes a in this plateover the corresponding holes or cavities, e, in the holder D when thecartridges are transferred from plate A to the holder D, as hereinafterdescribed.

The process of using the instruments described for packing cartridges isas follows: The cartridges are first inserted into the holes of plate A,points downward, as shown in Fig. 9, and having had their bullets dippedin melted tallow, as above described, while in this plate, substantiallyas has heretofore been done, the plate B is slipped upon the plate A byinserting the posts 0 in the holes 0 of the latter, so that the cavitiesb will exactly come over the heads of the cartridges, as shown in Fig.9. WVhen the plates B and A are thus placed together, they are invertedor turned over, and by slightly shaking the plate A the cartridges willsettle down into the cavities b in the plate B, with their heads restingupon the plate Zr, substantially as shown in Fig. 13. The plate A isthen lifted away from the plate B, leaving the cartridges standingpoints upright in this position, which is the position they are to havein the box when packed. The holes a of the plate A are again filled withcartridges, and after dipping in tallow, as before, and'the holder D,having its parts in the position shown in Figs. and 11, isplaeed overthe plate A, so that its studs 6 will enter the holes 0 and its holes orcavities 0 will come over the heads of the cartridges. These plates arein like manner inverted, and by slightly jarring theplate A thecartridges will be left standing points upward in the holes or cavitiesa when the plate A is lifted off of d The slide D is now drawn into theposition shown in Figs. 12 and 13, thus securing the cartridges in theholder 1), so that they may be turned points downward, as shown in Fig.13, without dropping out. The frame 0 is now placed upon the plate B byinserting the studs 0 of the latter into the holes a of the former andslipping them together. Next the holder D isinverted and its holes 0slipped upon the studs 0, as shown in Fig. 13, and is dropped down untilits faceplate d rests upon the top of studs 0, when the points of thecartridges in the holder will enter the cavities 6 between thecartridges in the plate B and be in the position in which they are to bepacked in the box. The slide D of the holder is now slipped back to theposition shown in Figs. 10 and 11, so as to allow the holder, by jarringslightly on its top, to be lifted off v the cartridges and studs 0',leaving the cartridges in the position shown in Fig. 14. The box I) isthen taken and inverted and slipped over the cartridges, as shown inFig. 14, down within the frame G, and the box and frame are inverted,when; by slightly jarring the frame and plate B and withdrawing it fromthe box, the cartridges will be found packed in the box in the mostperfect manner. Although this operation is somewhat tedious to describe,it is very quickly performed in practice, as its several movements, whenonce learned, are exceedingly simple, and no handling of the cartridgesby hand is required after they are placed in the holder A to have theirbullets greased, as has heretofore been necessary.

It is obvious that the form of the tools de scribed by me may besomewhat varied, and the several steps of the process may have theirorder somewhat varied, without departing from the spirit of myinvention. Thus the cartridges may be placed in the holder D first andin the plate B afterward.- The small cavities b in the plate B may alsobe omitted, and

the slide D may be made to work on the outer surface of the plate (1 orthe plate (1. Again, the plate (1 may be omitted and the slide D be madeto operate with the plate (i in suitable guideways on the latter; but Iprefer the construction I have described. The guide studs and holes mayalso be omitted, if desired.

I do not claim in this application the combination of the holder D,having ascries of holes or cavities, 0, adapted to receive thecartridgeheads, with the sliding plate or gripper D", provided with acorresponding series of holes, substantially as hereinbefore described,as the said combination is the subject of another application which Ihave made and filed in the Patent Olliee, January 15,1883, of which thepresent application is a division.

\Vhat I claim as new and of my invention 1s 1. The greasing-plate A,provided with the holes a, fitting the body of the cartridges andarranged regularly in alternating rows, and in position with relation toeach other substantially the same as the cartridges placed in said holesoccupy in the packing-box when packed with their heads adjacent to eachother, substantially as described.

2. The plate A, provided with holes a, fitting the body of the cartridgeand arranged regularly in alternating rows, and with guideholes a placedbetween the rows of holes a and the margin of the plate, substantiallyas described.

3. The plate A, provided with holes a, fiting the body of the cartridgeand arranged regularly in alternate rows, and with guideholes a c placedbetween the rows of holes a and the margin of the plate, substantiallyas described.

4. The cartridgeholding plate B, provided with cavities 1), adapted tofit the cartridgeheads and hold a series of cartridges with theirbullets in one direction in the alternating rows in which they are to bepacked in the box and form one course or layer therein, adjusted toalternate with an other course, substantially as described.

5. The holder B, provided with cavities b,

for holding a series of cartridges with their bullets in one direction,and the cavities b for holding an alternate series of cartridges withtheir bullets in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

6. The cartridge-holder B, provided with the series of cavities b andthe guide studs or rods 0, substantially as described.

7. The cartridge-holder B, having the series of cartridgeholdingcavities b and the guideholes 0", situated and adapted to receive thestuds 0' of the frame 0, substantially as described.

8; The frame 0, provided with holes 0 of the size to receive and guidethe cartridgepacking box around the cartridges, and guideholes a,corresponding to guide-studs c of holder B, substantially as described.

9. The frame 0, provided with holes 0 adapted to receive and guide thecartridgebox around the cartridges, guide-holes c and studs a,substantially as described.

10. The combinationof the holder B, provided with cavities b of propersize to receive the cartridge-head, and the plate A, provided withcorresponding holes, a, of proper size to receive and lit thecartridge-body, substantially as described.

ITO

11. The combination of the plate B, provided with cavities b andintermediate cavities, 12 with the plate A, provided with one or moreseries of holes corresponding with the series of cavities b,substantially as described.

12. The combination of the plate B, provided with cavities b andguiderods c, with the plate A, provided with corresponding holes a andcorresponding guide-holes 0, substantially as described.

13. The combination of the plates d (1, provided with holes'or cavities6, with the sliding plate D", placed between them, substan-' tially asdescribed. A

14. In combination with the holder D, provided with a series of holes orcavities, e, the guide-holes e", and the guide-studs e", the slidingplate D substantially as described.

15. The eombinatiomwith theholder B, provided with a series of holes,Z), adapted to receive cartridges, of the surrounding packinglJOXguide-frame O, substantially as described.

16. The combination, with the holder B, provided with the series ofcavities band the series of intermediate cavities, b, of the surroundingpacking-box guide-frame 0, substantially as described.

17. In combination with the holder B, provided with the series ofcavities b and intermediate series ofcavities, b the inclosing-i'rame 0,provided with posts 0 substantially as described.

18. The combination of the holder B, provided with aseries of cavities,b,and the guidestuds 0,with the inclosing-frame 0, provided withguide-holes c, sliding on said guidestuds c, substantially as described.

19. The combination of the holder B, carrying and supporting a series ofcartridges heads downward and points upward, with the holder D, carryingand supporting its series of cartridges heads upward and points downwardin such position that the latter shall be deposited alternately betweenthe upwardlyprojecting cartridges of holder B, substantially asdescribed.

20. The combination of the holder B, provided with a series of cavities,b, with the holder D, provided with a series of alternate cavities, c,substantially as described.

21. The combination of the holder B, provided with cavities b andalternate cavities b with the holder D, provided with cavities 6, comingopposite to the cavities b, substantially as described.

22. The combination of the holder B, provided with a series of cavities,b, and guidestuds 0, with the holder D, provided with an alternateseries of cavities, e, and the guideholes 6 fitting said guide-studs c,substantially as described.

23. The combination of the holder B, provided with the series ofcavities b, with the surrounding frame 0 and the holder D, provided withthe series of alternate cavities e, substantially as described.

24. The combination of the holder B, adapted to receive and hold aseries of cartridges points upward, and provided with guide-studs c,with the surrounding frame 0, provided with guide-holes c fitting saidstuds, and the holder D, adapted to receive and hold a series ofalternate cartridges points downward, and

provided with guide-holes e", fitting said guidestuds, substantially asdescribed.

25. The method of accomplishing the greasing and packing ofball-cartridges in boxes, which consists in arranging the cartridges ofeach layer in the greasing-plate in the position relative to each otherwhich they are to occupy in the packing-box, and in holding andretaining them in such relative position while being transferred by asuitable perforated plate or plates intothe packing-box, and depositedtherein in two layers, heads and points, substantially as described.

PAUL BUTLER.

YVitnesses:

LEPENE H. Bron, DAVID HALL Bron.

